Germany's cabinet has approved plans to raise the retirement age from 65 to 67 as Europe's largest economy tries to cut state spending and pension costs. The move, which needs to win the backing of parliament, is opposed by workers' groups and trade unions. Like many other nations, Germany is having to change its pension system as its population lives for longer. The government also approved a plan to try to keep people in jobs for longer and lure some pensioners back to work. According to Labour Minister Franz Muentefering, only 45% of Germans over the age of 55 are currently employed. The plan to get people to return from retirement, known as Initiative 50, offers sweeteners including wage subsidies and perks to employers. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

Bush's proposal to loosen U.S. visa rules for a select group of allies yesterday drew strong protests from security analysts and strong support from countries that hope to benefit from the liberalized rules. The starkly different reactions underscored the political force of the immigration security issue five years after the September 11 attacks, an issue that will quickly confront the new Democratic Congress early next year. While the Department of Homeland Gestapo (DHS) said yesterday there is no firm list of countries that would be given the waiver privilege, Mr. Bush's proposal to ease travel curbs for select allies in Eastern Europe and East Asia "is absolutely the wrong thing to do," said Janice Kephart, former counsel to the September 11 commission. "All this would do would be to open up another loophole for people to get into the country at a time when we have yet to secure our borders against possible threats," she added....http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20061130-121345-8186r.htm

Scientists have been urged to become more involved in public debates about their research or risk it being dominated by minority "maverick" views. The warning has been made by Royal Society president, Lord Martin Rees. He will say debates on issues such as climate change and stem cells need to be based on sound scientific research. Lord Rees is set to outline his concerns during a ceremony to honour Professor Stephen Hawking for his contribution to theoretical physics. "Technology and science are changing the world in the 21st Century faster than ever, and in more drastic ways," he told the BBC's Today programme. "The main theme of my talk is that science and the world faces ever more complex issues such as climate change, stem cell research and nuclear power. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6159371.stm

Hoping to capitalize on recent positive developments between Israel and the Palestinians, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Thursday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and expressed U.S. commitment to a "viable and contiguous" Palestinian state. Rice also voiced concern for the deteriorating humanitarian conditions for Palestinians, especially in Gaza. "We want to do everything that we can to ease movement and access" for the Palestinian people, she said at a news conference with Abbas. "The daily difficulties, the daily humiliations that are associated with life for the Palestinian people simply must be eased. ... I will work with you, Mr. President, and the Israelis to do precisely that." Abbas said efforts to form a Palestinian unity government -- necessary to resume the flow of international aid halted after Hamas took power earlier this year -- have reached a "deadlock."...http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/30/abbas.rice/index.html?eref=rss_world

The number of sites contaminated in the public health alert linked to the death of a Russian dissident has doubled to around 12, it was revealed today. The home secretary, John Reid, told the Commons the number was likely to rise again. Updating MPs about the inquiry into the death of Alexander Litvinenko, who died of radiation poisoning last Thursday, Mr Reid stressed that the risks to public health were "very low indeed". He said the number of people who had contacted NHS Direct over radiation fears now stood at 1,325. In total, 68 people had been referred to the Health Protection Agency (HPA), with 21 going on to receive specialist assessment.However, there have been no reports of anyone linked with the inquiry, apart from Mr Litvinenko, becoming seriously ill because of radiation....http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,,1960854,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

Iraqi soldiers found 28 bodies in a mass grave south of Baquba, a U.S. military statement released Thursday said.The site was identified by members of the Iraqi army and coalition forces. According to the U.S. military, the bodies were first moved to the Narwan area for identification by family members and were then transported to an Iraqi Police station in Baghdad. Iraqi authorities are investigating. The mass grave was discovered Wednesday. Fighting on Wednesday between coalition forces and insurgents shut down the city of Baquba, killing scores of militants and civilians, The Associated Press reported. Baquba is located about 30 miles (50 km) north of Baghdad. A U.S. soldier has been killed during combat operations in Baghdad, a U.S. military statement released Thursday said. The soldier was a member of Multi-National Division - Baghdad and died around 3:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m. ET) Wednesday...http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/30/iraq.main/index.html?eref=rss_world